CAS Water Sanitation and Hygiene for humanitarian and developing contexts

The course is designed to give professionals a thorough understanding of the increasing complexity of the WASH sector. It teaches students the latest contextual and technical skills needed to plan, design and implement sustainable activities and programmes within the framework of the fundamental principles of the WASH sector, namely public health and equitable access to water supply and sanitation services. Designed to contribute to Agenda 2030 (SDG 6) by focusing on all aspects of sustainable WASH interventions, this course is strongly practice-oriented, allowing for a direct link between theory and practice, i.e., the complexity on the ground.

Admission is reserved for holders of a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
Candidates who do not meet the requirements but have significant experience in the sector can also be admitted.

WASH Specialist/Engineer or Project Manager (planning, implementation, budget/KPIs)
Emergency WASH Coordinator (rapid response, outbreak prevention, camp services)
Public Health/WASH Advisor & Hygiene Promotion Specialist (risk analysis, behaviour change)
Water Quality/Environmental Sanitation Officer (monitoring, water safety, FSM)
MEAL Officer or Supply-Chain/Logistics Officer for WASH programmes


Typical employers: UN agencies, Red Cross/Red Crescent, INGOs/NGOs, government/municipal utilities, engineering/consulting firms, development banks.

After completing this course, participants will be able to:


Identify and analyse context-specific challenges and plan tailor-made WASH interventions to improve sustainable access to WASH services and facilities in complex institutional environments, both in the field of cooperation and humanitarian aid.
Conduct a context-specific public health risk analysis of inadequate WASH services and design appropriate prevention strategies.
Conduct a systematic analysis of environmental, social, and technical problems, both in urban and rural contexts, and design appropriate intervention strategies.
Implement the wide range of advanced WASH intervention tools: from specific technical approaches in water supply and sanitation to current methods developed in the field of hygiene promotion, as well as sectoral assessment tools.

The course caters to those working in, or supporting professionals from, low- and middle-income countries and is ideal for professionals from:


International development and humanitarian agencies
Civil society or non-governmental organisations
Government agencies
Consultants and sector professionals


Professionals in WASH and development-related disciplines who would like to deepen their knowledge of water, sanitation, and hygiene in both humanitarian and development contexts would benefit from this course.